- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Tuesday, 06 September 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 15 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S4W-29286 by Aileen McLeod on 26 January 2016, whether the (a) Sound of Barra Special Area of Conservation management committee is now in place and (b) report has been published.
Answer
Scottish Ministers agreed with the community to wait for the final report from Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay before considering whether to put a management committee in place or not. Marine Scotland awaits the final report from Voluntary Action Barra and Vatersay.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Wednesday, 14 September 2016
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Current Status:
Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what plans it has to develop tourism facilities on the North Coast 500 tourist route.
Answer
Taken in the Chamber on 21 September 2016
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by John Swinney on 12 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the details of its plans to revisit the health and nutrition legislative framework for school meals referred to at page 26 of the SNP manifesto.
Answer
We plan to share details with stakeholders as early in the process as possible.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment at page 26 of the SNP manifesto, what stage it has reached in taking forward the recommendations of the report, Building on Success: Deepening Collaboration, Food and Drink in Scotland.
Answer
The board of Scotland Food and Drink, the industry leadership body, is responsible for overseeing the implementation of the recommendations contained with the collaboration report to ensure they align and support the development of the new food and drink industry strategy. Good progress is being made to date, and this progress will be summarised in the board’s formal progress report it will produce at the end of 2016.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made toward the implementation of its first national marine plan.
Answer
Scotland’s first National Marine Plan was adopted in March 2015. The plan provides a framework for planning and regulatory decisions affecting the marine environment. Implementation has therefore focussed on raising awareness of the plan’s policies and monitoring their impact on licensing decisions. We have also undertaken a series of activities to inform relevant authorities of their obligations. These activities have included attendance at relevant conferences and training events; consideration of material submitted to the Scottish Government Development plan gateway; publication of Planning Circular 1/2015 on the relationship between statutory land use planning system and marine planning and licencing; supporting the development of regional marine planning; and publication of guidance material on National Marine plan online - http://www.gov.scot/Topics/marine/seamanagement/national. Information on implementation will be fed into the review of the plan in 2018.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of its commitment at page 26 of the SNP manifesto, how it will encourage local authorities to procure Scottish produce.
Answer
The public sector in Scotland has made good progress increasing their sourcing of Scottish produce through their catering contracts with an estimated 40% increase since 2007. We are now in discussion with local authorities, and other parts of the public sector, to agree how we can work together to increase this further, including through the proposed joint industry/public sector taskforce.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what plans are in place to appoint the national chef referred to on page 26 of the 2016 SNP manifesto.
Answer
We are currently considering options to deliver the commitment to appoint a National Chef. In doing so we will consult with stakeholders including the Scottish Food Commission who have a key role in advocating the importance of good food to Scotland’s health and wellbeing, environment and quality of life.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government whether it will provide the details of its plans to introduce the joint food industry supply-chain and public sector procurement taskforce referred to at page 26 of the SNP manifesto, including how the group will be constituted.
Answer
I refer the member to the answer to question S5W-02216 on 9 September 2016. All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament's website, the search facility for which can be found at:
http://www.parliament.scot/parliamentarybusiness/28877.aspx
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 9 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government when it will put in place the £5 million fund to promote island and regional food and drink brands referred to on page 26 of the 2016 SNP manifesto.
Answer
The Scottish Government is committed to continuing to support the food and drink industry, which has achieved great success in recent years. We are considering options of how to target the £5 million investment fund so that it has the greatest impact in supporting the growth of the Scottish food and drink sector and support of rural communities, and will set out our plans by spring 2017.
- Asked by: Rhoda Grant, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Labour
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Date lodged: Monday, 29 August 2016
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Current Status:
Answered by Fergus Ewing on 8 September 2016
To ask the Scottish Government what progress it has made in establishing a dairy farmers' crisis task force to address challenges facing the sector.
Answer
The Government has been working with key stakeholders to consider the most effective means to support the dairy sector. It has been decided that the Dairy Growth board will address the challenges facing the sector moving forward.